Clarks Summit council recognizes borough police

Mayor Patty Lawler looks on as Police Chief Chris Yarns listens to a recognition of the police department as read by Council President Gerrie Carey.

Meredith Colohan | For Abington Journal

From left, Mayor Patty Lawler stands by as Officer Eric Williams shakes the hand of Council President Gerrie Carey.

Meredith Colohan | For Abington Journal

CLARKS SUMMIT – Council President Gerrie Carey and Mayor Patty Lawler recognized Police Chief Chris Yarns and Officer Eric Williams Nov. 4 at the regular council meeting for helping to make Clarks Summit one of the safest cities in Pennsylvania.

Lawler said Clarks Summit was named one of the 50 safest cities in Pennsylvania by SafeWise. The recognition was based on the borough’s crime and arrest rates, updating and training police officers, and updating equipment.

“We honor the chief for this, and we also honor the council because they help us purchase the equipment and they are the engine under our train,” Lawler said.

Williams was recognized for his work during an incident in the borough on Sept. 24 when he helped save the life of a resident after he administered the drug Naloxone, a drug used in emergency situations to treat a narcotic overdose.

“Officer Williams is among the first of police officers in the county to administer this drug. So it’s a real honor to have Eric trained and ready. Thank you very much,” Carey said.

In other news, the council passed Resolution 2015-17 with a unanimous vote to submit an application for the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) for $68,291 in accordance with Pennsylvania Act 179 for the borough’s Depot Street project. According to the resolution, $55,999 is allocated for street improvements, and $12,292 for administration.

“I think the citizens of the borough will be very pleased with Depot Street once it’s completed. We also want to thank the county commissioners and (county community relations coordinator) Gerard (Hetman) for giving us updates on the monies that will be allotted to the borough for this project,” said council member Herman Johnson.

Construction on the Depot Street project will not begin until the spring, according to Johnson, who said they did not want to begin work during the winter months.

Council voted 7-0 to pass Resolution 2015-16 to suspend metered parking on Friday Nov. 20 and Saturday Nov. 21 for the “Holiday Open House” sponsored by the Abington Business and Professional Association (ABPA).

Resolution 2015-15 was also passed by council in a 7-0 vote to destroy a number of “old and no longer required General Financial Records” according to the resolution. This includes accounts payable files and ledgers, treasure’s backup files, and others from the year 2007 and prior.

Council member David Jenkins announced there will be an official dedication for the fire fighters’ monument on Nov. 28 at the fire station on Bedford Street at 10 a.m. The event will also include the dedication of the flagpole given in honor of the late former Mayor Tony Perry, and Msgr. Joseph Quinn will lead the dedication.

Mayor Patty Lawler looks on as Police Chief Chris Yarns listens to a recognition of the police department as read by Council President Gerrie Carey.

http://theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Chief-Yarns_1.jpgMayor Patty Lawler looks on as Police Chief Chris Yarns listens to a recognition of the police department as read by Council President Gerrie Carey. Meredith Colohan | For Abington Journal

From left, Mayor Patty Lawler stands by as Officer Eric Williams shakes the hand of Council President Gerrie Carey.